Stepladder joint and shelf support



Sept. 1, 1931. 51m. PETERS ETAL 1,821,075

STEPLADDER JOINT AND SHELF SUPPORT Filed March 27. 1929 TORJ l atented Sept.

SPENCER in. reruns AND ARTHUR B. noorinsT-ER, or' srniivenznim,I'LLINoIs; sAIIi noonnsrsn essrenon 'ro sari) rnrnns STEIPLADDER JOINTAnn sHELr sU'rfon'i- Application filed March 27,

Our invention relates to joint members, reenforcements and stepladdershelf supports adapted to be used at the top of a stepladder where thestep ladder legs are joined to the stiles; an object being in thisdevice particu' larly to provide a substantial and durable connectionbetween the step ladder legs and the stiles at their point of attachmentand to provide in connection with a substantial joint of this kind ameans of pivotally supporting and substantially resting a pivoted topstep ladder shelf atthe upper end of the step ladder for convenience inuse and economy in manufacture.

i i e attain the objects of our invention in the step ladder joint andshelf support hereinafter described and recited in the claims.

lleferring to the drawings Fi g. 1 iso perspective of the upper end of astep ladder disclosing the joint and shelf support of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical half-section taken through a portion of the upperend of a top ladder showing in section a step ladder shelf and one ofthe steplad'der steps. I

Fig. 3 is a front view of a step ladder folded with the upper shelfpivotally folded down between the ladder stilesand showing in a cutawaya more complete detail of the joint member and shelf support member.

Fig. i is a vertical half-section of what is shown in Fig. 2 with theleg member folded in closed position and the shelf member also pivotallyfolded between the stiles.

'l i 5 is a vertical half-section of a leg and stile of a step ladderdisclosing the manner of securing the leg member to a stile member atthe joint and disclosing the relative operating position of the ointmember and shelf support member.

Fig. dis a perspective of the step ladder joint and shelf support platedisclosing in netted lines the manner in which the shelf 1929. SerialNo. 350,339.

step ladder joint and shelf support We provide at the top of stiles -1and 2- joint plates ;3 and .4. substantiallyengaging the upper end ofthe stiles. These plates have integral front and rear flanges 5-- and .6--7 and 8 (not shown) adapted to respectively engage the front and rearface of the top of the stiles While each of .these plates 3- and 4 havethe upper portion of flanges 7 and 8 (not shown) inwardly bent in thesame plane with the flange and in opposite directions therefrom in arelative positiontoprovide a substantial shelf support .9- and 10 forthe operative support of step ladder shelf .11- hingedly supportedpivotally on a rod 12. "This shelf is re-enforced by angle bars 13 and14 engaging rod 12 ;.and it is these angle barsthat'rest on shelfsupport members 9 and l0 when the shelf is in normal use. Vhen not inuse shelf 11 folds down to a position parallel with the stiles asshown'in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.

For there-enforcement of stepiladder'legs 15 and -16 we provide U shapedplates -.-l7 and +18 hcldinto engagement with these step ladderlegsatthe joint connection between the legs and stiles of the step ladderand are held substantially by square shanked bolts fitting into squarecentral .holes of the U shaped plates .-1 7 and ..l8- While the boltsare .pivotally secured toithe stiles ina manner permitting the bolt toturn in the stile as it holds to plates 3 and 4 and not turn in the leg.Thus the joint is protected for a minimum of wear of the contactingmovable parts.

The steps of the step ladder may be made flat as shown in the drawingswith reference to numeral 19 or they may be made of any other suitablematerial and design.

Bolt 20- snugly extends through a leg and a stile of the ladder whilenut -2l may be substantially riveted on to prevent the loss of the bolt.

Certain minor details of our step ladder acteristics have been hereinabove described, are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafterrecited in the claims.

Having thus describedthe nature of our invention what we claim is: V

1. In combination with a stepladder having spaced parallel stiles a pairof parallel bracing legs pivotally connected with the stiles and a topshelf pivotally supported between 10 the top end'of the stiles, apair ofstepladder joints and shelf supports each respectively engaging theinner face adjacent the top end of said stiles; said joints each beingformed in the shape of a Z-bar section with its outer angle engaging theforward edge of the stile and. its inner angle extending inwardly towardthe opposite stile; said joint members each provided with a pair of boltholes, a bolt secured through one of'sa-id holes and through thecorresponding stiles and a rod pivotally supporting said shelf betweensaid stiles and extending through the remaining hole in each of saidjoints and through each of said stiles V where itis firmly secured intooperative position; said inner an le of each of said joints beingadapted to provide supporting means for said shelf when they same is innormal use.

2. In a stepladder having stiles and supporting legs pivoted thereto apair of step ladder joints each respectively engaging the inner face andforward edge of the stile; said joints each being formed in the shape ofa Z-bar, and provided with a pair of spaced 3 bolt holes, a boltsecuring each of said joints to said stile respectively through one ofsaid I holes in each joint and a relatively long rod extending throughboth of said stiles and through both of said joints; said joints each 4having an inwardly extending integral plate portionvadjacent its upperend; and a pivotally mounted shelf secured to said rod and adapted to beoperatively supported on said inwardly extending integral plates of saidjoint members.

In witness whereof, we hereunto set our hands this th day of March,1929. I SPENCER M. PETERS.

ARTHUR B. ROCHESTER.

